Study and travel at your own pace—according to your own plan!
This unique study abroad program has allowed hundreds of students to chart their own course to Europe since 1963. You will have the satisfaction of planning your own project; carrying out research in a European country of your choice; living, learning and traveling independently; and creating a final project paper that will very likely be the highlight of your academic career at UWRF.
Create a project based on what interests you.
The project paper lies at the heart of SA: Europe . You will develop the project during the spring semester with the help of a faculty project advisor in a particular area of study. This advisor and the SA: Europe staff will help you shape the scope of your study and assist you in making overseas contacts prior to your trip to Europe in the fall. When you arrive in Europe, you will be fully prepared to spend eight to ten weeks focusing on your topic.
Each project is unique and requires an individualized approach to conducting research. Some of the methods that SA: Europe participants use to gather their information in Europe include: conducting personal interviews with contacts, using specialized materials at libraries and museums, doing volunteer work for organizations, and auditing a class or classes at a local university.
SA: Europe participants have done projects in almost every discipline
taught on campus. You can develop a completely new and unique project or
explore a new approach to a topic that has been done previously. 
Here are a few general topics from recent participants:
- geology of the Isle of Skye (Scotland)
- art education and outreach into the community (Austria)
- internship with a non-profit women's organization (Spain)
- production and marketing of wine (France)
- sustainable development in an urban setting (Denmark)
- folk culture of Inishmore (Ireland)
- wildlife rehabilitation (Great Britain)
- training methods for search & rescue dogs (Germany)
- implementation of robotic milking systems on a dairy farm (Netherlands)
…and the list goes on and on.
Be a European “insider.”
Imagine being able to spend eight to ten weeks in one country as a temporary “insider” rather than a tourist. You will return from Europe not only with a deeper understanding of your research topic but also with a unique insight into a foreign culture. You will have experienced that culture firsthand, every day, in a thousand different ways--buying warm baguettes at the corner bakery, riding the local tram through town, speaking with a museum guide about your research topic, or picking up some fresh yogurt and fruit from the “mom and pop” grocery down the street.
To get the most out of your immersion in European culture in the fall, you will attend a series of preparatory meetings during the preceding spring semester. These meetings, held on Tuesday evenings, will cover research skills, health and safety issues, travel tips, and cultural information.
Be part of a group of individualists.
The
focus of SA: Europe is on you, your project and your travel
plans; however, you also have the comfort of knowing that you belong
to a group of individualists—UW-River Falls students all over Europe
who are going through the same learning and life experiences as you.
The entire group meets in Paris for several days at the beginning of
September to prepare to travel to their research locations. In November,
after you have completed most or all of your project work, you will
gather with the rest of the group for a three-day meeting in Levanto
on the Italian Riviera. It's a great opportunity to share your experiences
of the past several weeks, exchange travel tips, and map out your travel
plans for the remaining time in Europe.
On your own—with support
SA: Europe allows you to live and work independently; however,
you will also be staying in contact with the group leader--an SA: Europe
staff member who remains in Europe throughout the fall to provide
support, encouragement and advice. He or she will also visit you at your
research location to discuss your project. The group leader is committed
to helping you have a successful and rewarding experience abroad. 
Learn through travel, as well as through study.
After completing your research and attending the group meeting in early November, you are free to travel until the return flight home in mid-December. By this time you will have developed the travel skills and practical “know how” to take full advantage of your remaining time in Europe. Do you want to spend some time exploring Prague? Maybe a week in a village in Tuscany? Hiking in Switzerland? It's up to you. In addition to traveling, many students wisely use this time to start writing their project papers.
UW-River Falls students may participate in SA: Europe if they have an overall grade point average of 2.25 or higher, are not on academic probation, and have achieved Junior status (earned at least 60 credits before departure for Europe). Attendance at the Tuesday night preparatory meetings during spring semester is a prerequisite for traveling to Europe in the fall.
Students register for a total of 12-15 credits for the fall semester in the following courses:
INTS 377: Semester Abroad: Europe (6 credits)
The credits for INTS 377 may be applied to the Multidisciplinary Inquiry (MD) and Global Perspectives (GP) general education requirements. The grade is based on papers and assignments addressing the MD and GP requirements, as well as performance in the spring preparatory meetings and in Europe.
Departmental 378: Semester Abroad Research (ART 378, PSYC 378, etc.) (6 credits)
This course can be counted as electives toward a major or minor after obtaining approval of the department chair. The grade for the 378 course is based primarily on the project advisor's evaluation of the project paper.
Independent Study (1-3 credits)
Students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher may also arrange for up to three additional credits of independent study in a subject area outside of their project topic.
What kind of accommodations will I have?
Students make a variety of living arrangements while in Europe. Many stay
in youth hostels or inexpensive family-run hotels. Some rent small,
furnished apartments on a weekly or monthly basis. Others arrange accommodation
th
rough
project contacts often resulting in home stays.
The total cost to participate in SA: Europe -- including tuition, airfare, travel and living expenses, etc.-- is approximately $9300. Of course, your individual lifestyle will determine how much money you will need in Europe. Any financial aid that applies toward your on-campus tuition can also be used for this program. In fact the Office of Financial Assistance recognizes that students in study abroad programs often have a higher level of need, and it can offer you additional aid. Special loans and scholarships are also available for study abroad.
The following expenses are paid before you leave. These costs vary slightly from year to year:
Mandatory Insurance and International Programs Fees $425
Air travel and group stays in Paris and Levanto $1300
Rail pass (there are many different choices) $800 - $1500
We recommend that students have at least $4500 to pay for their expenses while in Europe.
You can join SA: Europe by attending the preparatory meetings in the spring semester and developing a successful project proposal with the assistance of a faculty project advisor. Although the spring meetings are a prerequisite for traveling to Europe in the fall, there is no need to register for them. Later in the spring semester you will be able to register for the appropriate fall courses.
For more information, or to be added to our email list, contact:
|
Brad Gee (Co-Director) |
Dr. Magdalena Pala (Co-Director) |
|
Dr. Dennis Cooper |
Dr. Lynn Jermal (2010 Group Leader) |
|
Dr. Kerry Keen (2009 Group Leader - in Europe) |
Dr. Ian Williams |
Join SA: Europe and create the study and travel experience of your lifetime.
